Lodhran Not Spared: Floods Hit Northern Pakistan
The devastating impacts of climate change have become more visible in the region as floods wreak havoc across northern Pakistan, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasting more widespread rain and thundershowers in the coming days.
Flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in northern Pakistan have killed at least three people and left 15 others missing, with over 200 local tourists stranded in the Chilas district.
The incident occurred after a cloudburst caused floods and landslides, sweeping away several vehicles carrying tourists. Pakistani rescue officials have been using army helicopters and heavy machinery to evacuate the stranded and search for the missing. This is part of a larger pattern of extreme weather events in the region, with above-normal monsoon rains killing at least 225 people and injuring over 500 across the country since June 26.
The National Disaster Management Authority reported 10 deaths in neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including six children. The monsoon rains have been more intense this year compared to last year, and the National Disaster Management Authority has issued a landslide alert for several northern areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted widespread rain, winds, and thundershowers across northern Pakistan and parts of Punjab province.
The country is still recovering from the 2010 floods that killed nearly 1,700 people and displaced over 30 million. Flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer district have killed six people, with the death toll rising from five on Tuesday. Rescue teams recovered another body in Babusar valley, taking the total number of deaths to six.
As the search operation to locate the remaining tourists at Babusar continues, the government has imposed Section 144 across Punjab along with a state of emergency in several districts as heavy rains triggered flooding and claimed over 60 lives across the province in 24 hours.